Fall 2007 Online Certificate Students:
View all sessions below. Then log all your comments, questions, discussion question answers, criticisms, or thoughts below.
NOTE: This is not the place for general discussion and questions. Go to the foyer for general discussion and refer to the FAQ on the right for question. Time spent in the comments section will apply toward your one hour of community time per week. To download audio sessions, visit the course homepage on the TTP site. The next session will be posted each Wed.
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Do humans carry dignity as God’s image bearers? Do humans alone carry the image of God? What about animals? Do they have the image of God? What effect did the fall have on the image of God? Did humanity lose this image after the Fall? How should the fact that man is created in the image of God affect the way we treat one another? This session will cover the vitally important issue of humanities’ post-fall relation to the image of God. The student should come to a better understanding of what it means that man was created in God’s image. It should be made clear that zealous believers often misrepresent Scripture and God by devaluing humanity to such a degree that the human race is not in any way God’s crowning achievement as described in the book of Genesis. This misrepresentation subconsciously affects the way we treat each other, leading people to justify contempt for all humanity. We will come to see that, unfortunately, many times the unredeemed displays the glory of God’s image better than the redeemed.
What does it mean that we are in the image of God? [10:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What else does it mean to be created in the image of God? [7:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What are the aspects of the image of God within man? [12:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download How did the Fall affect the imago dei? [12:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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September 28th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
H & S Session 5
1. Some of the ways society measures dignity is in terms of money/possessions, physical appearance, education, intellect, power, achievement, profession, race, and religion. These are not qualities that are of value from a Biblical perspective. Our dignity should be measured in terms of our godly qualities and our inherent value of being made in the image of God.
2. I use the wrong criteria to measure man’s dignity by sometimes placing too much value on material things, appearance and other outer trappings. The older I get, the more I realize that we are valuable simply because of who we are. The criteria that man uses to define us, is not the same criteria that God uses. When we stand before God, we won’t be judged by any of the items I listed in question #1. Understanding that helps me to put things in better perspective.
3. Intellectually I believe we all have dignity because we are created in God’s image. However, on another level I have difficulty accepting certain people as having dignity; i.e. serial killers, rapists, pedophiles etc. But, since we all fall short in one way or another, I have to accept that all persons have dignity even when the behavior is not dignified. “Love the sinner, hate the sin”.
4. Unbelievers are sometimes more tolerant, less judgmental and less self-righteous than believers. I believe that being more accepting is a better reflection of God’s image.
5. Some Christians have pessimism about man because they believe man lost the imago Dei or that it has been tainted because of sin. The less you believe God’s image exists in people, I suppose the more pessimistic you would be regarding man’s dignity.
6. Christians can have an unbalanced optimism about man in the sense that if we are created in Gods image, it may cause us to not place Him as much above us as we should.
7. Some of the ways we treat people with less dignity than they deserve include: not respecting the opinions of others, not listening actively, not respecting people’s privacy, gossiping and spreading rumors, being prejudiced and intolerant.
8. The knowledge that we are all created in the image of God should significantly affect ministry. Evangelizing is ideally from a position of respect for others because we are all God’s children. It shouldn’t be in a manner that is self-righteous, arrogant or self-serving.
9. It was challenging to think about the ways I/we tend to measure the dignity of man.
October 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Discussion Questions Session #5
Discussion Question #1
Morality, occupation, & wealth. No, we are to find our dignity and value in Christ.
Discussion Question #2
There are times when I have made judgment on someone according to their job, or possessions. I need to refrain from such stark judgments and see them as God sees them.
Discussion Question #3
Deep down I do, but it is hard to see it in all people. People who have done unspeakable crimes against humanity make it hard to find God’s image in them.
Discussion Question #4
Some unbelievers are more receptive to others who differ in appearances, wardrobe, or ideas.
Discussion Question #5
Christians can often show an unbalanced pessimism about man because of the many evil or wrong actions man can do. The news is constantly declaring the horrible items man does.
Discussion Question #6
Christians sometimes are over optimistic in the nature of man and think man is inherently good.
Discussion Question #7
Sometimes we avoid those who are not as well dressed, homeless, addicts, instead of trying to reach out to them.
Discussion Question #8
We should reach out to all who are lost, and care for their physical needs to be able to care for their spiritual needs.
Discussion Question #9
It reminds me how little I have truly done to share Christ with the least of society.